Lotus Gets Supercharged for Guangzhou Motorshow

Thursday, November 21, 2013 - 11:45

Lotus showcases the jewels from its product line-up at the 2013 Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, further asserting its presence in the Chinese market as its popularity grows amongst China’s fashion-conscious elite.

Chinese trend-setters looking for the ultimate in exclusivity and style, are warmly invited to the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, where from 21 November, the iconic British sports car brand Lotus, affirms its commitment to the Chinese sports car fan. This follows the recent strategic acquisition by Lotus’ parent company DRB-HICOM, of the importer and distributor of Lotus cars in China.

The contemporary Elise S, the super-cool track warrior - the Exige S, together with the sleek Evora S Sports Racer will take pride of place, representing a cross-section of the Lotus product range. For the more adventurous, Lotus is pleased to present the exclusive Type 125. The single-seater, ultra high-performance Formula 1® inspired race car, which launched at Pebble Beach, California is the most exclusive sports car in the Lotus product line-up, bringing the driver as close as possible to the driving experience of a real Formula 1® car.

Aslam Farikullah, Chief Operating Officer for Group Lotus plc said, “The Chinese market is very important to Lotus, so much so that we made the acquisition of Symphony Lotus through our parent company DRB-HICOM. This strategic move confirms our commitment to expand our presence and to strengthen the Lotus marque in China. It also ensures that the Group controls not only the quality and the delivery, but also the marketing, sales and aftersales of the products in China. We appreciate the demand and desire for Lotus in China, and have worked extremely hard to ensure that the cars we hand build at our high-tech facility in Hethel, England, are perfectly suited to our global customers.”

“The Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition enables us to reach out to the thrill-seeking, style-orientated sports car fan - those who expect an exclusive car, but one that delivers performance, unparalleled grip, together with exceptional ride and handling. Regardless of its enviable pedigree and heritage, Lotus is a youthful brand that all ages aspire to owning. We currently have nine dealers in China and Hong Kong, and expect to increase this number in the future as the demand for our cars grows. We are extremely excited with our new product range and plan to continue introducing new variants. Coupled with a more efficient production schedule, and together with the support from our Chinese dealers, we are looking at great things for Lotus fans in China,” added Aslam.

The cars in more detail:

The Elise S

The Elise S is an icon in youthful motoring enjoyment. A trendy, pure-bred and lightweight 2-seater sportscar that delivers a feel-good driving experience, the Elise S benefits from a light aluminium chassis construction and mid-mounted supercharged 1.8 litre engine which captures Lotus’ focus of ‘performance through lightweight’.

Not only is it a head turner of the youthful style-alert, it is incredibly safe too. The aluminium chassis is mated front and rear by high-tech energy crash structures. The front composite structure absorbs five times more energy than an equivalent structure in steel, meaning it provides high-level protection for the cabin.

At just 924 kg and with 162 kW at 6800 rpm, its performance is nothing short of thrilling! Couple that with the open-top, 6-speed transmission of the Elise S, and you have a genuine sports car that is as perfectly at home on the open road or cosmopolitan urban streets as it is on the race track. Plus, achieving 0-100 km/h in 4.6 seconds will ensure a thrilling drive regardless of the road, street or track you choose.

The Exige S

Some call it “a track-day warrior”, others call it “a beast”. We say the Exige S is the true expression of Lotus’ DNA; a pure, focussed, drivers’ car.

The intent of the Exige S is evident from its statistics: It achieves 0-100 km/h in 4 seconds. It is capable of a top speed of 274 km/h and 400 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm – all thanks to a 3.5 litre V6 supercharged engine and weight of 1176 kg.

The performance of the Exige S is impressive, but what really sets it apart is its exceptional ride and handling, brute downforce and iron-like grip of the road. Competition-beating like the Elise, it has a youthful spirit, but it’s altogether more serious, intended for a focussed driver. The mid-engine layout provides optimal balance whilst perfectly tuned and honed brakes, springs and dampers bring the Exige S’ suspension into a league of its own – delivering an exhilarating experience on both track and road.

The Evora S

Presented to the Guangzhou Motorshow audience in ‘Sports Racer’ scheme and with Intelligent Precision Shift ‘IPS’ automatic transmission, the Evora S really is of beautiful form and uncompromising function. Retaining the purist driving experience associated with Lotus cars, the exclusive Evora S boasts sophisticated styling, an aesthetic which belies the animal within! In every way it can, the Evora S communicates speed, purity, lightness and elegance, thanks to the craftsmanship of the visionaries at Lotus Design.

Boasting 258 kW at 7000 rpm and 0-100 km performance of 4.7 seconds, the Evora S with IPS ensures driver focus is uncompromised with the addition of paddle shift-operated automatic transmission. Powered by a 3.5 litre V6, mid-mounted engine and achieving a top speed of 267 km/h the Evora S is as competent as it is stunning.

The Type 125

Developed together with the Lotus F1® Team, the Lotus Type 125, or more fondly referred to as the T125, is an exclusive, ultra high performance Formula 1® inspired race-car, complete with Cosworth 3.8 litre V8 engine producing 477 kW linked to a 6-speed semi-automatic gearbox with paddle shift. Its superlight weight of just 590kg gives a phenomenal power-to-weight ratio of more than 745 kW per tonne.

The T125 gives you the closest experience to that of an F1® driver and, with a minimum number in production, offers a completely unique and privileged insight to top level global motorsport. Plus, you won’t need a team of mechanics to assist you. The T125 is fired up at the start of a button.

Customers of the Lotus T125 are invited to liaise directly with Lotus Motorsport at the UK headquarters, where after selecting the car’s individual livery, whether a classic Lotus livery, like the green and yellow displayed on the stand today, or one’s own colour scheme, clients can then watch the build of their car, and take the opportunity to hone their driving skills with our qualified instructors.

The Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition runs until 30th November 2016.